Welcome to the Real World

This wasn’t easy. Two adult kids vs. their mother. Well, that was almost true. Muriel sat across from the woman Tre brought with him. She held a cigarette between her fingers. The old biddy narrowed her eyes.

“Who are you again?” she asked. The girl took a drag of her smoke.

“Kate,” she said again. “Tre’s girlfriend.”

“Uh-huh,” Muriel said in a flat tone. She was going to have to go. They all were. The old biddy wanted her house back. It didn’t help that her son was still in bed and her daughter was out on the town. Muriel was just stuck with this posh woman.

“Why are you here?” she asked with her arms folded across her chest. Kate glanced up at her.

“Tre invited me along,” she said.

“Why?”

“Because of you.”

“Why?”

“Because you didn’t want him back here.”

“Heh.” Muriel leaned back in her chair. At least she was honest. The same couldn’t be said for her son. This was going to be much harder than she thought. Her friends weren’t going to be much help either.

“Are you okay, Ms. Fairbanks?” Kate asked. Muriel forced herself to grin.

“Of course I am!” she said. “Why wouldn’t I be?” Kate said nothing as she breathed out the smoke. Yeah, they really had to go.

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Jules made her way into the Sunny Plum. She pushed open the doors and went inside.

“Hello?” she asked. “Is anyone here?” Crusher looked up from the counter.

“Welcome!” he said. Jules looked confused at first.

“Um… who are you?” she asked. “I’m sorry for asking.” The big boy broke into a huge grin.

“I’m Crusher!” he said aloud. Jules narrowed her eyes with a confused look on her face. Where did she see him from?

“Dan?” she asked. The big boy dragged his head.

“Don’t call me that!” he said aloud.

“What is wrong with your name?” a voice asked behind him. Crusher and Jules looked up to see Annie coming out of the kitchen.

“Mrs. Anderson!” Jules said, waving. Annie covered her mouth.

“Juliet? Is that you?” she asked. Jules jogged over to the counter. Annie perked up. She smacked her nephew on the arm.

“What are you standing around for?” she asked. “Get her a menu!” The big boy nodded and ran to the shelf to get a fresh menu.

“Go on, take a seat,” Annie said, motioning over to one of the table.

“Oh, right,” Jules said. She took her seat at the table near the counter. Crusher handed her a menu.

“Cheers,” Jules said. She turned it over for a look.

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Muriel stood outside with her friends. Aisha, Lewis, and Clyde walked over to see if their friend still had it together. They were surprised to see her sitting outside of her house.

“You’re still alive?” Clyde asked. Aisha glared at her. The dirty old biddy looked at her, shrugging.

“What?!” she asked.

“How are you holding up?” Lewis asked.

“Not good,” Muriel said. “I can’t take it anymore. I want them all gone. I don’t know what to do.” Her friends didn’t know what to say. They all just sat outside of the house and said nothing. They still had a few more weeks of the summer too. Muriel shut her eyes and started whimpering. Lewis rubbed her on the back.

“Mum?” Tre asked in the house. Muriel buried her head in her hands. She needed a knew plan to get them out and fast or else she would end up going crazy. The question was how.

End